Growing up in Texas, I never understood how people could stand to be outside in temperatures >35°. Now, having lived in Northern Illinois for a few years, I find myself as "that guy" who wears short sleeves in those same temperatures.

 

And this is your idea of a March autocross event:

 

^on a lake.
We have an association for racing on the lakes when they're iced over.

Michigan Ice Racing Association - MIRA





Not sure when they last did it.

 

It is fun driving sideways through the neighborhood at >10 mph, and it is nice to have extra incentive for keeping the Miata off the road for necessary repairs. Or in my case, unnecessarily pulling the engine out just to clean it.

I still prefer the south. Wrench bite at -10° sucks ***, no matter how tough you are.

 

 

 

Aaaand it's in the 40s F today. These 40-50 degree F temp swings in 24 (or fewer) hours are why everybody in Central Florida has had some sort of flu, cold, infection, etc for the last 3 months.



I'm flying into a central state next week and not excited about the prospect of delayed or cancelled flights.

 

I live about 1/2 mile from the top of that hill. That's the one thing that kept so many people from getting home. Even if you take the back roads down Rex Lake Road past Barber, you still have to go up hills to get to 119. My dad said he was driving all the way from Cullman, and got to the bottom of the hill at the Chevron and had to stop and spend the night. So close, yet so far.

About to venture out into the treacherous one whole inch of remaining snow to go to the grocery store. Roads are supposed to be even worse tonight, with all of the ice already on them freezing even more slick. No loss. Hardly anyone has anywhere to be, since pretty much everything is shut down, except for a few stores.

 

So the last time it got this cold my AC relay quit working. Today my headlight relay took a ****...

Maybe it's because i am keeping the car in a 50F garage and the sudden shock from hot to super cold is bad? I have no idea, but i'm getting pissed. I've never had to replace relays like this.

 

NSFW language:

 

Dear GA,

Ice is slippery.

love, Brain.

 

I was actually somewhere where the snow was usefull: Copper Mountain, CO



Of course they're supposed to get 30 more inches now that I'm back home, bastards!

 

 

LOL - When in a slow 4-wheel slide downhill across ice towards a stopped car with unoccupied space to the stopped car's left and right, the correct response is not to push the brakes harder...

...the correct response involves taking your foot off the brakes and steering the car towards a safe or less occupied place.

- Also -

When trying to slow or stop, a snow covered surface provides significantly more stopping ability than an ice covered surface.

 

Yeah, I love the ones in four wheel lockup that never consider releasing. I am not surprised that the average driver doesn't understand the basic principles of how their automobile interfaces with its environment. Sheeple to the slaughter.

 

LET OFF THE BRAKES!!!

 

I would happily toss of some remarks about idiots who can't handle anything, but Denver people sit around talking about how hilarious it is that Southerners cant handle weather, then bitch and moan when the temp is any where in the 30s and drive like fools.

Did doughnuts in a few parking lots on the way to work today. Some people looked at me like I was clubbing baby seals with a flaming cross. 'Oh, my, he's sideways! And I think it may even be on purpose! Somebody stop that awful, awful man!'

God I hate Denver. Its now a bunch of Californians, Texans, and failed East coasters talking massive **** about being outdoorsy and fit while they hide from light breezes and hike twice a year. They just must have AWD because Colorado. RWD is simply too dangerous. Because AWD helps people who have not down-shifted since the late 80s stop more safely.

 

 

AWD has gotten me into more trouble in bad weather than ever driving in a FWD or RWD car... Plowing into corners and sliding out, such a deadly combo.

 

True. My DSM was really understeery until it wasn't.

I was told once that AWD was safer because then all 4 wheels are working to stop you too.